Every year we are introduced to a handful of undrafted NCAA players coveted by NHL teams. This year, Boston University goaltender Matt O’Connor generated the greatest amount of buzz.
According to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, the Toronto native narrowed his list of choices to the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers.
(UPDATE: O’Connor signed with the Senators)
With that in mind, here’s what hockey fans need to know about O’Connor.
Age: 23
Catches: Left
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 204 pounds
Drafted: Went undrafted in 2010
Contract status: Two-year, entry-level deal worth $925,000
He is your classic late bloomer…
If you look at O’Connor’s career statistics, the Toronto native has continued to progress at a steady pace. During his minor midget days with the Toronto Marlboros in the Greater Toronto Hockey League – where he was coached by former NHLer Steve Thomas – he played against the likes of Tyler Seguin, Jeff Skinner and Tyler Toffoli, but he wasn’t ready to make the jump to junior. Instead, he took a different route.
O’Connor will become the latest alumnus of the Ontario Junior Hockey League to sign a contract with an NHL team. During his two-season stint in the OJHL, he played for three teams.
In 2008-09 he suited up for the Upper Canada Hockey Club where in 27 games as a 16-year-old he went 3-19-1 with a forgettable 6.18 goals-against average. In 2009-10, he played 23 games with the Upper Canada Patriots and five more with the Burlington Cougars. He was a teammate of current Flames forward Josh Jooris with Burlington.
After leaving the OJHL, and prior to his time at Boston University, O’Connor spent two years with the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League, where he was teammates with current Anaheim Ducks forward Jiri Sekac.
He helped Boston University to an historic turnaround…
In 2013-14, B.U. posted a 10-21-4 record, but this past season they went 28-8-5 en route to the Hockey East Conference Championship and an appearance in the Frozen Four. Sure, a lot of the credit goes to the fact Jack Eichel was on the team, but O’Connor was no slouch. In 35 appearances he went 25-4-4 with a .927 save percentage and a 2.18 goals-against average.
He also instilled confidence in his teammates and coaches with his play. He also proved he can grow a solid moustache, and as we all know, an ability to grow a decent duster can go a long way in the NHL – especially in November and during the playoffs.
He will have to clear a mental hurdle…
While he earned praise for his play this season, it ended on a sour note as he let in quite the blooper of a goal in the championship game.
His draft class wasn’t particularly strong for goalies…
All 30 NHL teams passed on O’Connor in 2010, but he’ll have the chance to prove the doubters wrong whenever he makes his NHL debut. Of all the goalies taken that year, only Frederik Andersen of the Anaheim Ducks and Petr Mrazek of the Detroit Red Wings have played at least 40 games.
The two goalies taken in the first round that year — Jack Campbell and Mark Visentin – have played just one NHL game each. Another promising goalie prospect form that draft class is the Colorado Avalanche’s Calvin Pickard.
He’s no dummy…
Goalies are typically an intelligent breed and O’Connor fits that bill. He was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team as a freshman at B.U., and he is scheduled to graduate this summer after majoring in business administration and management.
He sure could’ve helped the Oilers…
Just do a quick Twitter search for “Matt O’Connor” and many of the tweets you see were Oilers fans pleading for him to sign with the struggling franchise seemingly comprised of mostly first-overall picks.
In the past 10 years the Oilers have drafted seven goalies that have played a combined one NHL game. Signing O’Connor could’ve been a way for Edmonton to add goaltending depth and reverse some of the damage done in previous drafts. Now they’ll have to look somewhere else.